Forest Preserve (New York)

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New York's Forest Preserve, comprises almost all the lands owned by the state of New York within the Adirondack and Catskill parks. It is managed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

As of 2022^[update], the Forest Preserve covers nearly 3 million acres (12,000 km²), about 61% of all land managed by DEC. Around 2.7 million acres (11,000 km²) are in the Adirondacks while 288,000 acres (1,170 km²) are in the Catskills.^[1]

Article XIV of the state constitution requires the Forest Preserve to "be forever kept as wild forest lands", thus providing the highest degree of protection of wild lands in any state. A constitutional amendment would be required to transfer any of this land to another owner or lessee. A later amendment to Article XIV also made the lands important parts of water supply networks in the state, particularly New York City's, by allowing 3% of the total lands to be flooded for the construction of reservoirs.

The establishment of the Forest Preserve in the 19th century was motivated primarily by economic considerations. Over time, its importance to recreation, tourism, and conservation came to be seen.